New Boiler Installation

PMurphy

As i'm sure you're aware from my previous post my wife and I are looking at buying a house. We keep finding houses which are pretty much ideal, however there always tends to be a snag.

The most recent house we have seen is a nice terraced property, with gas (I say this as the vast majority of houses around here are oil), and it currently has a very old Mersey Super Swan water heater. No Boiler or radiators what so ever.

Anyway, long story short, I spoke to my old man who said fitting a boiler isn't actually as expensive as it seems. Positionally it would stay in the same position as the current water heater, just need to plumb in 6 radiators. I'm contemplating buying all the materials myself, so my questions are;

I rang British Gas are the trained "adviser" was trying to bully me into paying £4k. I laughed. ALOT. Then hung up.

1. Roughly how much would you expect this to cost?
2. How much would you expect the cost to differ if the you supplied all the materials?
3. Is there a polite way of saying to a plumber, I have the materials I just need you to fit it? Would they get funny about it?

Doozergirl

1. I'd budget at least £2,500 for a new system with a Worcseter Bosch or similar, but it depends on your house, of course.
2. Not much less.
3. If you want the fit and products properly guaranteed, I would let them supply and fit. Someone with a conscience is going to want to supply, fit and guarantee. Otherwise you are responsible for the materials and they for the fit. It leaves a huge gap for the fitter to blame the manufacturer and the manufacturer to blame the fitter. And you have no idea of the quality of the products you purchase if this isn't what you do.

I think it's too expensive a job with too many moving parts and joints to risk, personally.

Grenage

I agree with Doozer. Get a decent independent to advise, supply, and fit. If it breaks after 4 weeks and you bought the parts, you'll have to sort it out.

You'll only save a very small amount; sometimes it's more expensive as they will probably get better prices than you.

dominoman

£4k for a decent boiler, plus the radiators and pipework doesn't seem far off the right price. If you think it will cost a lot less you'll be disappointed.

Having said that, if BG wants 4k then an independent should be willing to do it for a grand less or so.

Get 3 quotes from local independent Gas Safe guys, and make sure you meet them and ask questions about the install, their recommendation of boiler, whether to go combi or heat only etc. Their answers will give you a good gut feel as to who is competent, and your gut feel is an important factor in getting the right guy...

Chanes

We had a Vaillant boiler fitted to replace a BG one and had an old cylinder and header tank removed and then replaced 11 radiators for 3k (and got building regs. cert for it plus a 7 year guarantee on the boiler) We were lucky. We had factored 3.5 - 4. We had used the fitter before so we knew his work was good and we found him from a recommendation by an EON service engineer.

PMurphy

Been quoted anywhere from £3k to £5.5k. Also difficult to get a plumber to come out to the property and have a look when we only have such a limited viewing window.

Very frustrating but understandable.

southcoastrgi

Personally I wouldn't come out & price a heating system unless you owned the house, there is no guarantee I'd get the job & even less so if you didn't buy the house, budget 4-6k then once you have bought a house get it priced

PMurphy

That's fair enough. I think we've got enough basic evaluations to go on.

Thanks for your help!